{"database": "press", "table": "releases", "rows": [["https://www.risch.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/2020/12/icymi-risch-works-to-prevent-closure-of-small-businesses", "ICYMI: Risch works to prevent closure of small businesses", "2020-12-17", "2020", "2020-12", "Republican", "Senate", "ID", "Jim Risch", "R000584", "www.risch.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "By Jake Brasil - December 16, 2020\r\nTWIN FALLS The pandemic has been a significant challenge for what many consider the back bone of the Idaho's economy  small businesses. KMVT explains how one of Idaho's lawmakers is working to prevent the closure of small businesses in the coming months.\r\nFor almost a year, Idaho's small businesses have been forced to diversify and innovate the ways they interact with their customers. Sen. Jim Risch's office is reviving a statewide public awareness campaign under the titleSupport Local Gems - All Season Long.\r\nThis initiative is meant to encourage Idahoans to do their Christmas and holiday shopping at their favorite small businesses and promote local shops.\r\nWe want them to come out on the other side of this, and we will come out on the other side of this, said Idaho Republican Sen. Risch. That is the good news, that we can see the light at the end of the tunnel.\r\nThe goal is prevent the permanent closure of small business in the coming months, which could result in widespread economic hardship and a loss of community identity and value.\r\nPeople and Idahoans should think about small business and how they have been there for us for a long time, how they are the backbone of Idaho's economy, Risch said.\r\nAnyone can participate inthe initiativeby shopping safely in person or online, purchasing gift cards, ordering food via take-out or delivery, and encouraging others to do so. KMVT also caught up with The Jerome Chamber of Commerce who is supporting this imitative. Chamber executive director Cheryl Viola said they are happy to join Risch in this effort.\r\nShopping local is so vital to keep your community thriving and growing, Viola said. If a business can't succeed they are going to close down and they are going to lose that tax base and that is just going to cause people to leave.\r\nTo read the article on the KMVT website, clickhere.\r\nTo learn more about Support Local Gems, clickhere.\r\n# # #", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"]], "columns": ["url", "title", "date", "year", "month", "party", "chamber", "state", "member_name", "bioguide_id", "domain", "scraper", "source", "date_source", "text", "has_text", "collected_at", "updated_at"], "primary_keys": ["url"], "primary_key_values": ["https://www.risch.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/2020/12/icymi-risch-works-to-prevent-closure-of-small-businesses"], "units": {}, "query_ms": 0.7624980062246323, "source": "dwillis/congress-press", "source_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press", "license": "MIT", "license_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press/blob/main/LICENSE"}